Chittagong’s railway link with Dhaka has been restored 22 hours after an inter-city train derailed in Comilla after suspected Opposition blockade campaigners sabotaged the tracks.Railway authorities said train services from Rajshahi, which lay suspended since Saturday night, would resume Tuesday morning with repairs being over.
The engine and five carriages of Dhaka-bound ‘Mahanagar Godhuli’ had gone off the tracks around 8pm on Sunday at Pachora, in Comilla’s Burhichang Upazila, between Rajapur and Shashidal railway stations.
The accident had been caused by tampered fishplates.
The derailment had cut off Chittagong’s railway links with Dhaka and Sylhet.
Comilla’s acting Station Master Shafiqur Rahman said repairs ended around 4pm on Monday.
After that, ‘Subarna Express’ stranded at the station left for Chittagong around 6:20pm.
Railway Minister Md Mazibul Hoque had visited the spot on Sunday night. He also temporarily suspended the Laksam GRP OC, Mohammad Shahidullah, for negligence of duty.
The railway authorities had to cancel the trips of five trains from Chittagong to Dhaka and Sylhet because of the derailment.
Meanwhile, the engine and five bogies of the Dhaka-bound ‘Dhumketu Express’ went off the tracks around 1:30am on Sunday after blockade campaigners removed fishplates at Solua Jokuar Bil area at Rajshahi’s Charghat Upazila, between Sarda and Nandangachi stations.
There were no casualties, but train services from Rajshahi to Dhaka and Khulna were put on hold.
Repairs finished around 5pm on Monday, but the services will resume from Tuesday morning, said Rajshahi Railway Station Superintendent Abdul Karim.
Rajshahi Government Railway Police have filed a case in connection with the incident.
An investigation committee was also formed to probe the incident. It is to submit its findings in three days.-bdnews24.com
